In this post, we’ll go over three pronunciation mistakes that many learners make and show you how to fix them quickly.
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1️⃣ The “k” Sound at the End of Words
Let’s start with this word: 기억 (memory)
If you pronounced it like [기어k], you're on the right blog! Many learners add an English-style [k] sound at the end.
But in Korean, final consonants (받침) like ㄱ are pronounced softer and shorter, almost like the sound stops before the air is released.
✅ Correct pronunciation: [기억]
❌ Incorrect pronunciation: [기어k]
The same rule applies to borrowed words like:
- 플라스틱 (plastic) → say [플라스틱], not [플라스틱k]
- 부엌 (kitchen) → say [부억], not [부억k]
- 가족 (family) → say [가족], not [가족k]
2️⃣ Overstretching Vowels
Next, let’s look at vowel length.
Take this word: 관계 (relationship).
Some learners read it as [고안기에], stretching out the vowels.
But in Korean, vowels are short and crisp.
✅ Correct: [관계]
❌ Incorrect: [고안기에]
Compare it to English words like quiz or guacamole—you don’t drag out the vowels there either.
Other examples:
- 촬영 (filming) → say [촤령], not [초알영]
- 최고 (the best) → say [최고], not [초애고]
3️⃣ Omitting the Double ㄹ Sound
Finally, let’s talk about the double ㄹ rule.
When a final consonant ㄹ is followed by an initial ㄹ, like in 놀라다 (to be surprised), both should be clearly pronounced.
Many learners accidentally drop one and say [노라다], but that can change the meaning entirely!
Here are some examples:
- 올리다 (to raise/lift) → say [올리다], not [오리다]
(오리다 means “to cut”!) - 달라요 (it’s different) → say [달라요], not [다라요]
(다라요 is how you pronounce '달아요' and it means “it’s sweet.”) - 멀리하다 (to keep away) → say [멀리하다], not [머리하다]
(머리하다 means “to get your hair done.”)
If you enjoyed this post, we think you’ll love our video even more!
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